From Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, New Jersey.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank the nurses of the General Clinical Research Center for help with the studies and for excellent patient care, Karen Kresge for technical assistance, and Constance Harris Crews for typing the manuscript.

Grant Support: By National Institutes of Health grants R01-AG15353, R01-DK58895, R01-HL0733267, R01-DK066003, and M01-RR-00349 (General Clinical Research Center branch of the National Center for Research Resources) and a Mentor-Based Training Grant from the American Diabetes Association (Dr. Boden).

The study was limited by the short duration, small number of participants, and lack of a strict control group.

Conclusion:

In a small group of obese patients with type 2 diabetes, a low-carbohydrate diet followed for 2 weeks resulted in spontaneous reduction in energy intake to a level appropriate to their height; weight loss that was completely accounted for by reduced caloric intake; much improved 24-hour blood glucose profiles, insulin sensitivity, and hemoglobin A1c; and decreased plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels. The long-term effects of this diet, however, remain uncertain.